Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-07-22

tdDle, MS neuu sinking IOTWdTu Hpdli'
Then he went on in the same low voice:
1.-The path was slippery and cruel,
and she is dead.
"Then his voice sank low. so low that
could not distinguish the words, and at
last even the murmuring ceased. His
hands still kept moving back and forth
along the hair with a slow motion, and
strangeness that was strangely deep grew
in the room.
Il was sitting so that my back was
toward the dim light admitted by the
shaded windows, this giving me good
view of my companion and all parts of
the room.
''Of course my attention was chiefly
bestowed on the man who sat opposite
me. and who now seemed to have utterly
lost consciousness. Indeed. there was no
movement of any kind to show that he
even lived.
But my attention was soon to be
withdrawn from him, for now peculiar
feeling like that which tells of a nearing
presence became manifest. | looked from
one point of the room to another, but
saw nothing. Again looked at the man
opposite to me, and my gaze wandered
from his face down to the hair i'll his
hands.
WAS it delusion? or was dream
ing?
THE hair was disappearing! By a
great effort | remained i'll my seat. The
man had not moved; had not even
stirred, and yet not half of the mass of
golden threads tina: had given him re-
manned iii his clasp, and l could see this
gradually lessening.
1T was not a movement, it was not a
Whisper cannot describe the sensation
that made me turn my gaze to that
portion of the room deepest in shadow,
but did so turn it, and my hands closed
with wise like clasp.
believe it or not, this is the truth:
There, in the darkness, a pale and
seemingly phosphorescent flame was
burning. As l continued to look at the
flame it began to take the form of a
woman, young and beautiful woman,
with masses of golden hair falling about
her 1.-the and graceful body.
"The form remained faint and indis-
tinct save in the supreme beauty of the
face and the perfect grace of outline.
'And now another change came, for
the eyes of this mysterious being, which
had before been Indifferent. as thought.
took on a yearning. human look. and a
delicate blood flush tinged the cheeks and
lips.
And now, almost like the swift heat
of an electric shock. love surged up in
my heart for this strange being. |
stretched forth my arms and murmured,
Come to me, my darling, come to me.
when l uttered these words the lu-
minous form deepened. and a look of
gladness and trust shone in the eyes.
Then she moved toward me, growing
more beautiful, more human all the
while.
Il sprang to my feet, my arms ex-
tended, and the next instant Gertrude,
my darling. nestled in my clasp. throb-
bling, responsive girl
After little while a low voice broke
in, and we turned to the man whose
power had given US this strange bliss.
His voice was clear. His head still bent
forward. His eyes We're closed, but we
knew that he was speaking to us.
"'You have entered ON new life,
said he, and henceforward you are one,
not two. Because l held the power that
could recreate her beauty in shadowy
outline, given one perfect part of her,
she dawned for you. Had you not gath
cred every thread Of hair, this could not
have come to pass. But she was only a
shadow when first you saw her. 1t was
your love that imbued the shadow with
life; it is your love that will keep life
there. And you can never be apart fol
separation would snap the chord of hel
existence. But you will be happy, both
here and hereafter. Now go and may
the great and good Father bless you.
"Some uncomfortable influence made
us place our hands on his head. and Their
we passed out of the room and into the
sunlight.
MY first act was to 60 to friend
who is a lawyer, and get him to obtain a
marriage license, which he was to bring
to my hotel. l then sent for another
friend, who is minister, and that even.
ing we We're married.
"And now you will understand Ger.
tain peculiarities in our conduct. We
have not sought out Gertrude's friends,
and we never shall. Her father and
mother are dead, and she has no relative
nearer than an aunt who has inherited
the little property that was Gertrude S.
She would not be able to understand her
niece's peculiar life. so to you alone is
our secret contided. Some time you NAV
tell it, but your own good sense must
judge when that shall be.
1--WE shall go to Europe in the spring,
and we should like you to come with us,
for l know that you have long wished
to make the trip. Will you gof'
OF course l answered yes, for visit tc
the old world had been dream of years
and could have no better company
But before | set forth on this journey
decided to make lasting record for this
strange history.-Thomas S. Collier il